Arson detection expert witnesses will testify in the Gatesville, TX, murder trial of David K. Allen who is accused of killing his wife, Paula Allen. Fire investigators have already classified the mobile home fire as intentionally set. The former preacher’s trial has been delayed from November 2013 to February 2014. Chemical experts will perform laboratory analyses to determine whether an accelerant was used in the 2011 fire.
The current Mrs. Allen, 28, has been indicted for perjury in the case.
Pharmacology expert witnesses may provide reports and expert witness testimony concerning clinical pharmacology, generic drugs, patented drugs, pharmaceutical companies, and associated matters. It was recently announced that the state of Vermont will receive almost $1.4M in the consumer fraud lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals. The DOJ charged the drug companies with illegal marketing and kickbacks to influence doctors to prescribe Risperdal, Natrecor and Invega to their patients.
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a New Jersey pharmaceutical company of J&J, provides medicines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), general medicine (acid reflux disease, infectious diseases), mental health (bipolar I disorder, schizophrenia), neurologics (Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, migraine prevention and treatment), pain management, and women’s health. Sister companies include Janssen Biotech and Janssen Theraputices.
Dr. Robyn Porterfield and her partner industrial psychology expert witness Dr. Bob Rose write about the benefits of knowing about the services of Industrial Psychologists.
Judging from the scarcity of Industrial Psychologists (often called IO Psychologists) on legal websites many practitioners may know little, if anything about what they do. IO’s are a specialized group of professionals who have PhDs in Psychology and focus on behavior in the workplace and can speak to issues such as safety, discrimination, harassment, hiring and termination. While these areas require some specialized knowledge beyond the scope of IO training they also have associated psychological factors. For example, a safety program may not be effective if not communicated in a way people can understand and remember. Discrimination in hiring often involves understanding psychometric issues such as validity, an area where Industrial Psychologists have considerable training and understanding of practical applications. Industrial Psychologists whose consultation to business is their sole or major endeavor know the difference in ivory tower theory and real-world applications.
Read more: Rose Porterfield Group Inc
I asked safety and disaster management expert Dr. Michael J. Fagel to comment on the Typhoon Haiyan disaster. He specializes in industrial safety, OSHA, safety, FEMA, security, transportation, and the food industries. He spent over 100 days at ground zero following the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Planning, something we always talk about, but, when the disaster happens, we wonder what has occurred and why. The extraordinary events that have occurred in the Philippines, underscore the need for human services and support. I have been to many hurricanes and man made disasters over the last 30 years.
We must strive for open and honest communications during the event. Specifically,
Accident investigation expert witnesses may give opinions and provide reports concerning crash investigations, preservation of the accident scene, skidmark analysis, and more. In October, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a statistical projection of traffic fatalities for the first half 2013 which showed that an estimated 15,470 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes. USA Today reported this week that hit-and-run crashes, including fatal ones, are increasing in many big cities. Los Angeles has the dubious distinction of having almost half of accidents fall into this category.
Dr. Sara Solnick, Professor at the University of Vermont, has studied hit-and-run crashes in the context of the economic model of behavior. She says drivers who have much to lose, e.g. young drivers, those under the influence, or those without a license, are motivated to not get caught.
Transportation expert witnesses may consult on bus & truck safety, highways, transportation engineering, transportation safety, and associated matters. This past week the National Transportation Safety Board announced their investigations into deadly crashes in the past year has resulted in a recommended audit of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s oversight procedures. Four commercial vehicle accidents resulted in 25 deaths in the time period December 2012 to June 2013. Investigations revealed safety problems that went unnoticed or were not remedied by the FMCSA until after the accidents.
For more information, see the November 7, 2013, NTSB Press Release.
Real estate appraisal expert witness Carlton Segars testified this week that South Carolina bank First National Bank, as well as their appraiser, acted fraudulently in a $3M loan made to state Senator Ray Cleary and his investment company. The fraudulent appraisal under-reported wetlands on the property. The wetlands cannot be developed but First National Bank allegedly included them in the loan amount.
Wetlands may be a marsh, swamp, bog, slough, etc. EPA regulations at 40 CFR 230.3(t) explain that:
Wetlands vary widely because of regional and local differences in soils, topography, climate, hydrology, water chemistry, vegetation, and other factors, including human disturbance. Indeed, wetlands are found from the tundra to the tropics and on every continent except Antarctica.
Pharmacology expert witnesses may opine on generic drugs, patented drugs, pharmaceutical companies, pharmaceutical medicine, and the pharmaceutical industry. Not commonly known is the fact that 40% of prescription drugs used in the US are manufactured outside the US. News this week revealed unsavory business practices by the drug company Ranbaxy in India. Ranbaxy chemical engineer Dinesh Thakur became a whistleblower and exposed that Ranbaxy drugs were made improperly. Ranbaxy was ordered to pay $500 million in fines and settlements.
FDA news release, Sept. 16, 2013: FDA prohibits manufacture of FDA-regulated drugs from Ranbaxy’s Mohali, India, plant and issues import alert.
Read more: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm368445.h
Domestic abuse expert witnesses may consult and testify on domestic violence, family violence, domestic assault, and related matters. Lawrence Cambra fatally shot an Oregon volunteer officer-in-training this past weekend after having police called to the residence 10 times in 2012 for domestic disputes. When Officer Robert Libke arrived at the burning house, Cambra shot him in the face with a rifle. Officer Libke had not drawn his weapon.
Domesticviolence.org decribes domestic violence:
Violence can be criminal and includes physical assault (hitting, pushing, shoving, etc.), sexual abuse (unwanted or forced sexual activity), and stalking. Although emotional, psychological and financial abuse are not criminal behaviors, they are forms of abuse and can lead to criminal violence.
How may pesticides expert witnesses consult on pesticide contamination? These professionals may write reports and testify on insects, pesticide products, pesticide regulations, pesticide pollution, and more. This week, two pesticides have been linked to an increased risk of the medical condition endometriosis. Mirex and beta HCH have been banned in the US for many years but are still found in some dairy products and fish.
Mirex was developed to control fire ants. The chemical unfortunately becomes more concentrated and toxic as it travels up the food chain to humans. The pesticide beta HCH was used over 30 years ago but traces may still be found in the environment. Studies on humans show that exposure is linked to both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Read more at http://www.epa.gov/.
